Trump slashes NPR, PBS spend
May 2, 2025
By Chris Forrester
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to reduce government support for two US ‘not for profit’ broadcast entities, National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB/PBS).
Trump alleged that the two entities have showed bias in their reporting. Both organisations receive government funding which they supplement with direct cash funding from the general public and businesses.
The executive order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” and further demands that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organisations.
The White House, in a social media posting on May 1st announcing the signing, said the outlets “receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’”
The two broadcasters receive around half a billion dollars in public support and Republicans have long complained about their coverage.
Paula Kerger, PBS’s CEO and president, speaking in April 2025, said: “There’s nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress. This public-private partnership allows us to help prepare millions of children for success in school and in life and also supports enriching and inspiring programs of the highest quality.”
Trump has already slashed public funding for US overseas broadcasters including the US Agency for Global Media (which includes Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty).
Other posts by :
- SES announces €0.25c dividend
- Russia “blinding and destroying” German satellites
- Bank: AST, Starlink, Kuiper targeting $200bn market
- Rivada: Is no news good news?
- SES celebrates Intelsat acquisition
- Pakistan halts broadband direct-from satellite
- India stymies Starlink launch
- Starlink, AST SpaceMobile race for cellular consumers
- Trouble ahoy for foreign D2D satellites over India?